Collapsible tennis net support

ABSTRACT

A collapsible tennis net support is disclosed. The collapsible tennis net support includes a plurality of lightweight tubing to easily fold-up for easy storage and transport. The collapsible tennis net support deploys from a folded position to a fully erect position with a simple and one-handed movement and includes a height indication indicia utilized to measure a proper height of a center of tennis net and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application61/747,335 filed on Dec. 30, 2012, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is a support. More specifically, the presentinvention is a collapsible tennis net support.

2. Description of the Related Art

Tennis to be properly played requires the net to be supported at theproper height at the ends and held down in the middle. Net supports arerequired to adjust the end net heights on a doubles court for singleplay. The net is always forty-two inches on the ends of the net andthirty-six inches at the middle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a support. More specifically, the presentinvention is a collapsible tennis net support.

The collapsible tennis net support includes a first piece of lightweighttubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the firstpiece of lightweight tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate atop cable of a tennis net, a second piece of lightweight tubing includesa top end and a bottom end and a third piece of lightweight tubingincludes a top end and a bottom end. The collapsible tennis net supportalso includes a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece oflightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the thirdpiece of lightweight tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece oflightweight tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece oflightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elasticcord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of lightweighttubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of lightweighttubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord. A topanchor is coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cordis extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the secondpiece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing. Abottom anchor is coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed onthe bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing and heightindication indicia is disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing,wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the firstpiece of lightweight tubing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennisnet support that easily folds-up for easy storage and transport.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennisnet support that deploys from a folded position to a fully erectposition with a simple and one-handed movement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible tennisnet support that includes a height indication indicia utilized tomeasure a proper height of a center of the tennis net and placement ofthe collapsible tennis net support on a doubles court.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front environmental view of a collapsible tennisnet support, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a collapsible tennis net support, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention however the order of description should not be construed as toimply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a front environmental view of a collapsible tennisnet support 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention. The collapsible tennis net support 100 illustrated in FIG. 1is in a locked and fully extended position.

The collapsible tennis net support 100 may be installed on a tennis net110 to lift a top cable 112 of the tennis net 110 to a regulation heightof forty-two inches. The tennis net 110 may also include a bottom tape114. The tennis net 110 may be any suitable tennis net such as a doublescourt tennis net (not shown). The collapsible tennis net support 100 mayeasily fold-up for easy storage and transport. The collapsible tennisnet support 100 may be deployed from a folded position to a fully erectposition with a simple and one-handed movement.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a collapsible tennis net support 200,in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thecollapsible tennis net support 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 is in acollapsed position.

The collapsible tennis net support 200 may have a first piece oflightweight tubing 210, a second piece of lightweight tubing 220, athird piece of lightweight tubing 230, a pair of hollow couplers 240, atop anchor 250, a bottom anchor 260 and a height indication indicia 270.

The first piece of lightweight tubing 210 may include a top end 210 aand a bottom end 210 b. The top end 210 a of the first piece oflightweight tubing 210 may include a U-shaped slot 212 to accommodatethe top cable 112 of the tennis net 110 and maintain the tennis net 110at a regulation height of forty-two inches. The second piece oflightweight tubing 220 may include a top end 220 a and a bottom end 220b. The third piece of lightweight tubing 230 may include a top end 230 aand a bottom end 230 b. The pair of hollow couplers 240 may lock thefirst piece of lightweight tubing 210, the second piece of lightweighttubing 220 and the third piece of lightweight tubing 230 in place whenthe collapsible tennis net support 200 may be erected in a fullyextended position. The bottom end 220 b of the second piece oflightweight tubing 220 may be coupled to the top end 230 a of the thirdpiece of lightweight tubing 230 by one of the pair of hollow couplers240 and an elastic cord 224. The top end 220 a of the second piece oflightweight tubing 220 may be coupled to the bottom end 210 b of thefirst piece of lightweight tubing 210 by one of the pair of hollowcouplers 240 and the elastic cord 224. The top anchor 250 may be coupledto a first end 224 a of the elastic cord 224 that may be extendedthrough the first piece of lightweight tubing 210, the second piece oflightweight tubing 220 and the third piece of lightweight tubing 230.The bottom anchor 260 may be coupled to the second end of the elasticcord 224 that may be disposed on the bottom end 230 b of the third pieceof lightweight tubing 230. The height indication indicia 270 may bedisposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing 210. Morespecifically, the height indication indicia 270 may be a line 272disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing 210 to indicate athree foot measurement to verify the tennis net 110 proper center heightand placement of the collapsible tennis net support 200.

Use of the collapsible tennis net support is straightforward. Thecollapsible tennis net support easily deploys from a folded position toa fully erect position with a simple, one-handed motion. The collapsibletennis net support when collapsed conveniently fits into any tennis bagor other suitable container for easy transport and storage. The heightindication indicia may be utilized to measure the proper height of thecenter of the net and the placement of the collapsible tennis netsupport. The collapsible tennis net support complies with the UnitedStates Tennis Association or USTA and International Tennis Federation orITF rules for singles play on a doubles court.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising: a first piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net; a second piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a third piece of tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord; a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing; and a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of tubing.
 2. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.
 3. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.
 4. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement.
 5. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, wherein the first piece of tubing, the second piece of tubing and the third piece of tubing are lightweight.
 6. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 1, further comprising a height indication indicia.
 7. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 6, wherein the height indication indicia is disposed on the first piece of tubing.
 8. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 7, wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the first piece of tubing.
 9. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 8, wherein the line indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.
 10. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising: a first piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of lightweight tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net; a second piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a third piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord; a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing; and a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing.
 11. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.
 12. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, further comprising a height indication indicia.
 13. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 12, wherein the height indication indicia indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.
 14. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.
 15. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 10, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement.
 16. A collapsible tennis net support, comprising: a first piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end, the top end of the first piece of lightweight tubing includes a U-shaped slot to accommodate a top cable of a tennis net; a second piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a third piece of lightweight tubing including a top end and a bottom end; a pair of hollow couplers locking the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the top end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the bottom end of the first piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and an elastic cord and wherein the bottom end of the second piece of lightweight tubing is coupled to the top end of the third piece of lightweight tubing by one of the pair of hollow couplers and the elastic cord; a top anchor coupled to a first end of the elastic cord, the elastic cord is extended through the first piece of lightweight tubing, the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing; a bottom anchor coupled to a second end of the elastic cord disposed on the bottom end of the third piece of lightweight tubing; and height indication indicia disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing, wherein the height indication indicia is a line disposed on the first piece of lightweight tubing.
 17. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the pair of hollow couplers lock the second piece of lightweight tubing and the third piece of lightweight tubing in place when the collapsible tennis net support is erected in a fully extended position.
 18. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the line indicates a measurement to verify the tennis net proper center height and placement of the collapsible tennis net support.
 19. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is lifted to a regulation height of forty-two inches.
 20. The collapsible tennis net support according to claim 16, wherein the collapsible tennis net support is deployed from a folded position to a fully erect position with a one-handed movement. 